Dead man wakes up, gives cop fright of his life

A 60-year-old man who fell off a running train between Udgir and Latur Road stations on Saturday and was declared dead by hospital doctors woke up moments before a post-mortem was to be conducted on him.
An assistant police inspector who was doing the panchanama got the fright of his life when Hiralal Patilia started breathing and mumbling at the casualty department in Latur Government Medical College.

"As part of the panchanama, I started examining the body for any birth marks... Suddenly he started breathing heavily, coughed and mumbled a few words," API Narayan Ranzhunzare said.

After checking all parameters, the casualty medical officer declared a severely injured Patilia dead. Since it was an accident, police formalities had to be completed before conducting the post-mortem.

"Thankfully, he woke up minutes before the post-mortem was to be conducted. Just imagine what would have happened if the post-mortem had been conducted," Ranzhunzare said. "I gathered myself and alerted the doctors, who rushed him to the emergency ward."

Following the incident, the hospital administration terminated the CMO from duty. "We agree it was a mistake; but we are taking proper precautions now," Dr Dipti Dongaonkar, dean, Government Medical College, Latur, said.

Patilia is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital's orthopaedic ward.